Dimensions: sheet: 5 9/16 x 3 7/16 in. (14.1 x 8.7 cm)
Copyright: Public Domain
Hans Kalmsteiner made this small gouache drawing called "Kasperltheater" on paper, sometime around the turn of the last century. Look how the artist uses such simple shapes to create a cast of characters. There’s a real economy to the way Kalmsteiner paints; nothing is overworked, and yet the image feels complete. The matte surface of the gouache gives the piece a wonderfully tactile quality, almost like looking at a fresco. I’m drawn to the way the artist uses color to define form, like the clown’s spotted jacket. There’s a playful tension between the flatness of the shapes and the illusion of depth. Notice the odd color of the floor space, and how it is bounded by a line of blue triangles, a nice compositional touch. The overall effect is charmingly naive, like something a child might create, yet it possesses a sophisticated understanding of color and composition. Thinking of other artists who work with this balance of sophistication and naivety, I’m reminded of the work of Paul Klee, who, like Kalmsteiner, found inspiration in the art of children. Ultimately, it’s this quality of openness and possibility that makes the piece so compelling.
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